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Perimenopause

Thebigblue

Hi, I am newly diagnosed at 49. Still trying to make sense of it all. Can I ask the ladies in the group what your experience of peri menopause has been. I have been on HRT for 5 years and despite this I feel like my symptoms are getting worse. I’m more and more sensitive to noise, smell and people. I’d be interested to hear about other’s experience please. Thanks

Parents

  • When in early perimenopause I asked my GP Practice for support as I approached menopause.  I was told by a clinician that "there is a website for that".  When I asked for details of to which they made reference - I was told that I would need to speak to a different GP (who, for an extended time, was not available to request an appointment).  End of story.  It felt as though I was considered somehow unreasonable to have asked for that specific menopause support.

    So ...once I had stopped fuming: I went hunting for self-help education on the topic.

    There is a useful set of articles etc. where Autistica looked into just how scarce is the information applicable to menopause and Autism:

    https://www.autistica.org.uk/what-is-autism/autism-and-menopause

    I also found useful this Psychology Today article and reference materials: 

    https://www.psychologytoday.com/gb/blog/women-with-autism-spectrum-disorder/202403/why-autistic-womens-experience-of-menopause-is

    Here are two National Autistic Society articles around menopause:

    https://www.autism.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/topics/physical-health/menopause

    https://www.autism.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/professional-practice/menopause-menstruation

    To me, there seemed to be a combination of:

    - a reduction in available energy for masking capability (e.g.I reduced my working week to 4 days a week),

    - the need for a longer post-socialising etc. event decompression and recovery time (e.g. I needed to be a bit more strict with my calendar management and schedule in regular time to regroup on my own),

    - a return to a much younger age group style of increased sensory sensitivities (e.g. I tried to remind myself that showing up and attending things (in my comfortable cotton t-shirt) was more important than people who may disapprove as I wasn't sporting the team work wear (nasty, scratchy polyester polo shirt with an evil collar bothering the nape of my neck and harsh front button placket stitching scuffing below the front of my neck),

    - more tendancy toward gastro-intestinal upset from medication or disrupted meal routine (e.g. moved my prescription fulfillment from my GP Practice in-house service to a local independent pharmacy - where I had found a Pharmacist who took my requests for advice seriously),

    - a return to something like the adolescent-era levels of sleep dis-regulation (e.g. I found a rechargeable baby's white noise generator helpful to try and reset my sleep approach experience for 30 minutes at weird times overnight www.amazon.co.uk/.../B0CTJK9NND ).

    However, I don't believe that I necessarily experienced as disruptive a set of the more "traditional" menopause symptoms as those of which I was aware in some of my neurotypical acquaintances. 

    Obviously, it is not a competition (and each woman has their own journey) - but I think family / friends / GP Practice tend to be a bit light on understanding menopause experiences in general - and particularly in the dark when it comes to Neurodivergent / Autistic women.

    I have found menopause itself (further adjustments beyond merely periods actually stopping) is a process or exploration of strategies to suit yourself.  I still am finding the increased / decreased impacts are an annoyance (and yet, you can learn about and adapt / adopt Autism-supportive strategies more familiar to our much younger Autists - us "lettings" have much to learn from younger Autistic generations who may have benefited from more female-friendly Autistic strategies from an earlier age in their Autism journey).

    I am pleased periods have stopped - now it is more a matter of transferring the energy period management used to consume - towards now adapting to some of the perhaps "more" Autistic presentation I experience now. 

    New best friends include things like: decent ear defenders, comfortable active noise-cancelling headphones, effective ear plugs, fidget items, sunflower hidden disabilities lanyard in busy public places, comfortable clothes, attend events on your terms, reasonable adjustments etc. - whatever suits and you as the Autistic person you are now.

    More research is required and more advocacy is necessary - so that we may help to improve the peri / menopause experience and journey of those woman who will follow us.

  • in reply to DormouseAtRest_25

    You are saying all the things I have experienced. 

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